Kenai Community News

Posted: Monday, August 20, 2007

By Joan Hansen283-5872, e-mail: hansjoan@alaska.net

I refuse to acknowledge the fireweed's inexorable climb up its stock. This year maybe it will stay until October.

I spoke with a woman in Fairbanks last week whose daughter participated in the recent state soccer tournament held here. She had nothing but accolades to describe the Kenai area. She said they had a great time, the people were terrific, and the weather was gorgeous. All that, and they took first place in the tournament, too. It was nice to hear such good things about activities in our fair city from visitors. Way to go, all of you who worked so hard to organize the tournament and provide a positive experience for all the attendees.

It's great to see Bud Lofstedt back home on the Kenai after spending time in Hawaii and Arizona these past months. He can sure still churn up the water at the Nikiski pool with his lap swims.

Hobo Jim's last concert of the summer at the Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center is Wednesday at 3 p.m. Here's your chance to take the kids to hear Alaska's balladeer singing his original songs.

A celebration of life luncheon in honor of the late Kitty Swanson will be held Aug. 27 at the Kenai Senior Citizens Center at 11:30 followed by a memorial time with refreshments. It will be an informal time of celebration to honor a wonderful homesteader from our area. Call Kathy Romain for more information at 283 -4156.

Mary Daly, owner if Hi Speed Gear was listed in the August issue of Alaska Business Monthly in their top women-owned businesses directory. It's great to see someone from Kenai listed.

Mark and Anita Necessary have had their usual busy summer. They had a group of six young brothers from Colorado, Texas and Anchorage come and take in all the sights, then Linda Moore and JoAnn West from Dumas, Texas arrived. Their hosts showed them all the delights of the peninsula the fjords, Homer, lots of shopping. They also made sure that their guests saw the salmon-spawning beds by Portage Glacier.

Anita says, "that's an amazing place to see where all the salmon go. The fish viewing area off the road to Portage is worth stopping with your family or guests for."

Registration deadline for first- and second-grade Boys and Girls Club co-ed basketball is Friday. Registration may be faxed or mailed in, or you can stop by the club. High school basketball registration deadline in Aug. 31.

Rebecca and Mark Thomas of Kenai announce the birth of their son, Wilson Mark, at 6:37 p.m. Monday, Aug. 6, 2007, at Woman's Way Midwifery in Soldotna. He weighed 7 pounds and 4 ounces.

He joins sister, Zina.

Community directory available

The LeeShore Center's community directory of central Kenai Peninsula resources is available for $25 with a three-ring binder or $15 for refill pages only. The directory lists more than 80 pages of information on emergency services, family support agencies, health facilities, senior citizens services and veteran's organizations. For more information, call 283-9479.